Michael Carrick issues concerning new Manchester United injury update | OneFootball

Champions League-chasing Red Devils could remain without key absentee for some time to come

Michael Carrick is still unsure when Matthijs de Ligt will return from injury and cannot say if the Manchester United defender will play again this season.

Carrick’s predecessor Ruben Amorim initially expressed hope at the time that the Dutch international would be back quickly, though later conceded that his injury was more serious.

De Ligt has missed United’s last 18 matches across all competitions and will remain sidelined when they travel to Bournemouth in the top-flight on Friday night, looking to strengthen their grip on third place in the battle for Champions League qualification.

"Frustrating for Matta [De Ligt],” Carrick said at Thursday’s pre-match press conference. “He's obviously trying to work towards getting back, but it's just the back issue really that's proving difficult.

"We'll keep working as hard as we can to get him back as quick as we can."

Pressed on if De Ligt - who will want to earn a place in the Netherlands squad for this summer’s World Cup - will play again before the end of the season, Carrick added: "Honestly, it's difficult to say just because it's taken that much time.

Matthijs de Ligt has not played for Manchester United since November

Manchester United via Getty Images

"I can't give you any more on it really. It's one of those things with backs that sometimes you think it's all right and then all of a sudden it's not quite right.

"We're just kind of being patient and working through it. We'll just have to see. We'll obviously give him time, but trying to get him back as quick as we can, but it's really difficult to say.

"I'm not trying to hide anything. Literally at the moment we don't know so we'll have to wait and see."

Carrick would not be drawn on the possibility of De Ligt potentially needing surgery to repair his long-standing back injury.

"I don't want to get into that at this stage,” he said. “I think we'll obviously try and do whatever we can to help Matta and help get him back and whatever that takes.

"We're working through that now at the moment to be honest and (will) see. Hopefully he'll be back sooner rather than later and everything will be fine and we can move on."

De Ligt joined United from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024 along with Noussair Mazraoui and has made 56 appearances for the club so far.

Fellow United centre-back Lisandro Martinez also remains sidelined with a calf injury, though Carrick hopes he will be back for the visit of rivals Leeds to Old Trafford following the international break.

He has not played since the 1-1 draw with West Ham on February 10 and was omitted from the latest Argentina squad. In the absence of both De Ligt and Martinez, Leny Yoro has partnered the resurgent Harry Maguire in central defence for United.

Mazraoui could return against Bournemouth after illness, while Patrick Dorgu continues to recover from a hamstring injury.